Boiler-tube expander.



L. G. PASSAT. BOILER TUBE EXPANDER. APPLIOATION FILED APR. 10, 1908.

907,396. Patented Dec. 22,1908. F l 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

A v v Q m Q0 i 3* 5 2% E L. G. PASSAT. BOILER TUBE EXPANDER.

rrmoumx FILED APR. 10, 1908.

907,396. Patented Dec. 22, 1908.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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LEON GILBERT PASSAT, OF LAMBEZELLEC, FRANCE.

BOILER-TUBE EXPANDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 22, 1908.

Application filed April 10, 1908. Serial No. 426,413.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEON GILBERT PASSAT, citizen of the Re ublic of France, residing at 62 Route de Faris, Lambzellec, Finistere, in the Republic of France, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Boiler-Tube Ex anders, of which the following is a speci cation.

This invention relates to an apparatus for the rapid widening of the projecting parts of boilers, condensers, coolers and other tubular receptacles, without exerting a direct disjointing strain upon the tube and without requiring a new drifting.

The essential feature of the invention is that the widening of the tubes is effected by means of a wedge or mandrel of appropriate shape divided into several sectors upon which a conical spindle is caused to act, separating the sectors from each other: these sectors being kept inside the rojecting portions of the tubes to insure tie widening of such tubes owing to a compression which is exerted from the inside towards the outside of the tube and which consequently has no tendency to disjoint the tube.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a sectional view of a first form of construction of the apparatus; Fig. 2 is a sectional view of a second form of construction of the apparatus, by means of which, in addition to the widening proper, it is possible to effect a setting with or without an internal flange and Fig. 3 is a section through line A A of Fig. 1. i 7

Referring to Fig. 1 the apparatus comprises a frustum shaped tempered steel wedge a, perforated with conical hole and formed at its upper portion like a base. Said wedge is divided into several parts radiating from the axis of the hole. It is secured by its base in a casing b. The lower portion of said casing is closed by a threaded part which bears on the head plate. The slack left only allows. the different parts of the wedge to move perpendicularly to the axis of the hole.

A conical spindle c fits exactly, by its under portion, in the conical hole provided in the center of the wedge. The u per portion of said spindle is screwed into t e piston d. A spring e acts to. keep said piston constantly at the top of its stroke. This piston moves in a cylinder f which is made solid with the casing b. A tubulure it formed on a base i, cast with the cylinder, allows the water or air to be fed under pressure; a second tubulure insures the discharge of the water or air. I On the base i of the cylinder is secured a screw 3' on which may be screwed or unscrewed a nut-handle is, which is adapted to bear on a fixed point of the boiler so as to allow of securing the apparatus at the point desired.

The operation of the apparatus is insured by water or air under ressure. The wedge is first placed in the tu e to be widened,the handle it is then unscrewed, so as to cause the apparatus to be held tightly. The piston is at the top of its stroke owing to the action of the spring. At this moment, the fluid acting on the iston, the latter moves down, carr ing wit it the spindle which separates t e different sectors of the mandrel 0,; these sectors working from the inside to outside and on the entire'circumferenceof the projecting part of the tube, force said tube to bewidened.

An annular spring 11) draws back the different portions of the mandrel against the spindle when the piston is raised.

In the form of construction shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the conical spindle engages the cen ter of a mandrel with a base n. Said mandrel has the exterior shape required for the setting, the wideningand the flanging that it is desired to obtain. It is inserted in the interior of the tube, and is divided into several parts radiating from the axis. It is also held by its base in a casin connected to the bottom of the cylinder y rigid arms 0. The bottom of the casing is closed by a threaded part p which bears on the head late. A cylindrical part g is screwed on a ateral boss of the cylinder; it is adapted to receive a valve for the admissionof air or water under pressure. A three-port slide valve r is employed for the distribution. This slide valve is operated by means of a handle 8 secured on an axis carried on its center by the slide valve 1". Hydraulic packing insures the air-tightness at the cover of the slide valve casing. A sliding and rotating joint, formed of two hydraulic pistons inserted in a two art cylinder 1!, is arranged on the cpipe for t e admission and escape of the flui under pressure, in order to allow of the easy manipulating of the appa ratus.

The apparatus works as follows: The piston being in its upper stroke, the mandrel is inserted into the tube to be set, said tube being in its place in the head plate. The slide valve is opened for admission through its upper end, the piston moves down, the spindle separates the diflerent parts of the mandrel, and causes, by compression, the tube to take the outer shape of the mandrel; in the example shown in the drawing, an outer Widening and an inner flange are obtained simultaneously. The slide valve is then opened for the escape; water is introduced into the lower end, that in the upper end escapes and the piston raises. The different parts of the mandrel are drawn together under the action of the annular spring and everything is ready for a new settin l faving now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An apparatus for widening the projecting parts of boiler tubes comprising in combination a wedge or mandrel divided into several radiating sectors and having a central conical opening, an operating frustum shaped portion formed on said wedge or mandrel, a base plate made integral with said wedge or mandrel, a conical spindle adapted to be engaged in the opening of the wedge or mandrel, a piston to which is secured the conical spindle, a cylinder in which is adapted to move the piston, a casing formed at one end of the cylinder and adapted to receive the base plate of the Wedge or mandrel, and means imparting to the piston a forward and backward movement, substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.

2. An apfparatus for widening the projecting parts 0 boiler tubes comprising in combination a wedge or mandrel divided into several radiating sectors and having a central conical opening, a base plate made integral with the wedge or mandrel, a conical spindle adapted to be engaged in the opening of the wedge or mandrel, a piston to which is secured the conical spindle, a cylinder in which is adapted to move the piston, a casing formed at one end of the cylinder and adapted to receive the base plate of the wedge or mandrel, means for imparting to the piston a forward and a backward movement, a screwthreaded rod secured on the cylinder at the end opposite to that in which passes the conical spindle, and a nut handle screwed on the free end of the screw-threaded rod and adapted to bear against a fixed point of the boiler, substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.

3. An apparatus for widening the project- 1 ing parts of boiler tubes comprising in combination a wedge or mandrel divided into several radiating sectors and having a central conical opening, a base plate made integral with the wedge or mandrel, a conical spindle adapted to be engaged in the opening of the wedge or mandrel, a piston to which is secured the conical spindle, a cylinder in which is adapted to move the piston, a casing formed at one end of the cylinder and adapted to receive the base plate of the wedge or mandrel, a screw-threaded rod secured on the cylinder at the end opposite to that in which passes the conical spindle, a nut handle screwed on the free end of the screw threaded rod and adapted to bear against a fixed point of the boiler, a tubulure leading to the cylinder for the admission of a fluid under pressure on one face of the piston, a tubulure for the escape of the fluid, and a spring arranged between one end of the cylinder and the face of the piston opposite to that upon which the fluid acts, substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.

4. An apparatus for widening the projecting parts of boiler tubes comprising in combination a mandrel divided into several radiating sectors and having a central conical opening, a frustum shaped portion formed on said mandrel, a flanged portion on said mandrel formed at a certain distance from the frustum shaped portion, a base plate made integral with the mandrel, a conical spindle adaptedto be engaged in the opening of the mandrel, a piston to which is secured the conical spindle, a cylinder in which is adapted to move the piston, supporting arms formed at one end of the cylinder, a casing formed at the free ends of the supporting arms and adapted to receive the base plate of the mandrel, means adapted to hold tight the apparatus during its performance, a threeport slide valve provided on the cylinder for the admission and escape of the fluid under pressure on both ends of the cylinder, and a sliding and rotating oint formed of two hydraulic pistons inserted in a two part cylinder arranged in the pipe for the admission and escape of the fluid under pressure, substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

LEON GILBERT PASSAT.

Witnesses:

EMILE POSSLER, CHARLES CLUDIS. 

